13.

3 Explosives Detonation

13.3.1 General1-5

This section deals mainly with pollutants resulting from the detonation of industrial explosives
and firing of small arms. Military applications are excluded from this discussion. Emissions
associated with the manufacture of explosives are treated in Section 6.3, "Explosives".

An explosive is a chemical material that is capable of extremely rapid combustion resulting in

an explosion or detonation. Since an adequate supply of oxygen cannot be drawn from the air, a
source of oxygen must be incorporated into the explosive mixture. Some explosives, such as
trinitrotoluene (TNT), are single chemical species, but most explosives are mixtures of several
ingredients. "Low explosive" and "high explosive" classifications are based on the velocity of
explosion, which is directly related to the type of work the explosive can perform. There appears to
be no direct relationship between the velocity of explosions and the end products of explosive
reactions. These end products are determined primarily by the oxygen balance of the explosive. As in
other combustion reactions, a deficiency of oxygen favors the formation of carbon monoxide and
unburned organic compounds and produces little, if any, nitrogen oxides. An excess of oxygen causes
more nitrogen oxides and less carbon monoxide and other unburned organics. For ammonium nitrate
and fuel oil (ANFO) mixtures, a fuel oil content of more than 5.5 percent creates a deficiency of
oxygen.

There are hundreds of different explosives, with no universally accepted system for classifying
them. The classification used in Table 13.3-1 is based on the chemical composition of the explosives,
without regard to other properties, such as rate of detonation, which relate to the applications of
explosives but not to their specific end products. Most explosives are used in 2-, 3-, or 4-step trains
that are shown schematically in Figure 13.3-1. The simple removal of a tree stump might be done
with a 2-step train made up of an electric blasting cap and a stick of dynamite. The detonation wave
from the blasting cap would cause detonation of the dynamite. To make a large hole in the earth, an
inexpensive explosive such as ANFO might be used. In this case, the detonation wave from the
blasting cap is not powerful enough to cause detonation, so a booster must be used in a 3- or 4-step
train. Emissions from the blasting caps and safety fuses used in these trains are usually small
compared to those from the main charge, because the emissions are roughly proportional to the weight
of explosive used, and the main charge makes up most of the total weight. No factors are given for
computing emissions from blasting caps or fuses, because these have not been measured, and because
the uncertainties are so great in estimating emissions from the main and booster charges that a precise
estimate of all emissions is not practical.

13.3.2 Emissions And Controls2,4-6

Carbon monoxide is the pollutant produced in greatest quantity from explosives detonation.
TNT, an oxygen-deficient explosive, produces more CO than most dynamites, which are oxygen-
balanced. But all explosives produce measurable amounts of CO. Particulates are produced as well,
but such large quantities of particulate are generated in the shattering of the rock and earth by the
explosive that the quantity of particulates from the explosive charge cannot be distinguished. Nitrogen
oxides (both nitric oxide [NO] and nitrogen dioxide [NO2]) are formed, but only limited data are
available on these emissions. Oxygen-deficient explosives are said to produce little or no

2/80 (Reformatted 1/95) Miscellaneous Sources 13.3-1

13.3-2

Table 13.3-1 (Metric And English Units). EMISSION FACTORS FOR DETONATION OF EXPLOSIVES

EMISSION FACTOR RATING: D

Carbon Monoxidea Nitrogen Oxidesa Methaneb Other

Explosive Composition Uses kg/Mg lb/ton kg/Mg lb/ton kg/Mg lb/ton Pollutant kg/Mg lb/ton

Black 75/15/10; Delay fuses 85 170 ND ND 2.1 4.2 H2S 12 24

powder2 Potassium (38-120) (76-240) (0.3-4.9) (0.6-9.7) (0-37) (0-73)
(sodium)
nitrate/
charcoal
sulfur
EMISSION FACTORS

Smokeless Nitrocellulose Small arms, 38 77 ND ND 0.6 1.1 H2S 10 21

powder2 (sometimes propellant (34-42) (68-84) (0.4-0.6) (0.7-1.5) (10-11) (20-21)
with other
materials) Pb —c —c

Dynamite, 20-60% Rarely used 141 281 ND ND 1.3 2.5 H2S 3 6

straight2 Nitroglycerine/ (44-262) (87-524) (0.3-2.8) (0.6-5.6) (0-7) (0-15)
sodium nitrate/
wood pulp/
calcium
carbonate

Dynamite, 20-60% Quarry work, 32 63 ND ND 0.7 1.3 H2S 16 31

ammonia2 Nitroglycerine/ stump blasting (23-64) (46-128) (0.3-1.1) (0.6-2.1) (9-19) (19-37)
ammonium
nitrate/sodium
nitrate/wood
pulp
(Reformatted 1/95)

Dynamite, 20-100% Demolition, 52 104 26 53 0.3 0.7 H2S 2 4

gelatin2 Nitroglycerine construction (13-110) (26-220) (4-59) (8-119) (0.1-0.8) (0.3-1.7) (0-3) (0-6)
work,
blasting in SO2 1 1
mines (0-8) (1-16)
2/80
2/80 (Reformatted 1/95)

Table 13.3-1 (cont.).

Carbon Monoxidea Nitrogen Oxidesa Methaneb Other

Explosive Composition Uses kg/Mg lb/ton kg/Mg lb/ton kg/Mg lb/ton Pollutant kg/Mg lb/ton

ANFO4,5 Ammonium Construction 34 67 8 17 ND ND SO2 1 2

nitrate with work, (0-2) (1-3)
5.8-8% fuel oil blasting in
mines

TNT2 Trinitrotoluene Main charge 398 796 ND ND 7.2 14.3 NH3 14 29

in artillery (324-472) (647-944) (6.6-7.7) (13.2-15.4) (14-15) (27-30)
projectiles, HCN 13 27
mortar (11-16) (22-32)
rounds, etc. C2H2 61 121
Miscellaneous Sources

C2H6 0.5 1.1

RDX3 (CH2)3N3(NO2)3 Booster 98d 196d ND ND ND ND NH3 22d 44d

Cyclotri- (2.8-277) (5.6-554) (12-61) (24-122)
methylene-
trinitroamine

PETN2 C(CH2ONO2)4 Booster 149 297 ND ND ND ND NH3 1.3 2.5

Pentaerythritol (138-160) (276-319) (0-25) (0-5)
tetranitrate
a Based on experiments carried out prior to 1930 except in the case of ANFO, TNT, and PETN. ND = no data.
b The factors apply to the chemical species, methane. They do not represent total volatile organic compounds (VOC) expressed as methane.
Studies were carried out more than 40 years ago.
c Greater than 6 mg per 158 grain projectile (0.6 kg/Mg, 1.2 lb/ton).
d These factors are derived from theoretical calculations, not from experimental data.
13.3-3
 Figure 13.3-1. Two-, three-, and four-step explosive trains.

13.3-4 EMISSION FACTORS (Reformatted 1/95) 2/80

nitrogen oxides, but there is only a small body of data to confirm this. Unburned hydrocarbons also
result from explosions, but in most instances, methane is the only species that has been reported.

Hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia all have been reported as products of
explosives use. Lead is emitted from the firing of small arms ammunition with lead projectiles and/or
lead primers, but the explosive charge does not contribute to the lead emissions.

The emissions from explosives detonation are influenced by many factors such as explosive
composition, product expansion, method of priming, length of charge, and confinement. These factors
are difficult to measure and control in the field and are almost impossible to duplicate in a laboratory
test facility. With the exception of a few studies in underground mines, most studies have been
performed in laboratory test chambers that differ substantially from the actual environment. Any
estimates of emissions from explosives use must be regarded as approximations that cannot be made
more precise because explosives are not used in a precise, reproducible manner.

To a certain extent, emissions can be altered by changing the composition of the explosive
mixture. This has been practiced for many years to safeguard miners who must use explosives. The
U. S. Bureau of Mines has a continuing program to study the products from explosives and to identify
explosives that can be used safely underground. Lead emissions from small arms use can be
controlled by using jacketed soft-point projectiles and special leadfree primers.

Emission factors are given in Table 13.3-1. Factors are expressed in units of kilograms per
megagram (kg/Mg) and pounds per ton (lb/ton).

References For Section 13.3

1. C. R. Newhouser, Introduction To Explosives, National Bomb Data Center, International

Association Of Chiefs Of Police, Gaithersburg, MD (undated).

2. Roy V. Carter, "Emissions From The Open Burning Or Detonation Of Explosives", Presented
at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control AssociatIon, Houston, TX, June 1978.

3. Melvin A. Cook, The Science Of High Explosives, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New
York, 1958.

4. R. F. Chaiken, et. al., Toxic Fumes From Explosives: Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil Mixtures,
Bureau Of Mines Report Of Investigations 7867, U. S. Department Of Interior, Washington,
DC, 1974.

5. Sheridan J. Rogers, Analysis Of Noncoal Mine Atmospheres: Toxic Fumes From Explosives,
Bureau Of Mines, U. S. Department Of Interior, Washington, DC, May 1976.

6. A. A. Juhasz, "A Reduction Of Airborne Lead In Indoor Firing Ranges By Using Modified
Ammunition", Special Publication 480-26, Bureau Of Standards, U. S. Department Of
Commerce, Washington, DC, November 1977.

2/80 (Reformatted 1/95) Miscellaneous Sources 13.3-5